At the Seaside

A nice quiet night in Mabie forest (apart from the screeching owls..) and I awoke to a slight drizzle, although not much, and after packing up I set off to continue my journey up north, passing through Dumfries, which looked an interesting town and soon I was passing Ae forest, but had decided not to stop there, I may come on my return (when I’ve fixed my bike)  so I kept driving up through Perth, where I had a big ‘Scottish breakfast’ in Tiso’s shop (and time to look at the current outdoor gear) and carried on along the A9, following a big line of single file traffic.. by mid afternoon I arrived in Lossiemouth http://www.lossiemouth.org/ Kate and Wayne’s  new home, not forgetting my only Granddaughter Chloe !

I managed to catch them just as they were going out to the shop – she had texted me, but my phone wasn’t working (temporarily) – good spot !

I was then able to spend the rest of the day with everyone, and also an easy Saturday, getting a new tyre,phone charger ( Ooops!) and other bits I hadn’t realised I needed ! before we had some Big pancakes at Baxter's restaurant http://www.baxters.com/about-baxters/our-stores/fochabers/ and then a mess about in the evening sunshine in the garden, before a relaxing evening, and early night

Sunday morning I was able to do what ‘Granddads ‘do…a walk on the beach with little Chloe , and down through Lossiemouth, telling her some great stories…you can see the effect it had on her.. great blue skies and sunshine, perfect for a walk… and later a bacon buttie from Dad…then an easy afternoon in the garden playing, before getting dressed up for Sunday lunch out in Lossie.. for a Roast Lunch , and then afterwards a walk along the sea front in the hot evening sunshine..delightful

So after ice cream we all walked home…rested and fed !

I’ll be off again in the morning, not sure whether I’ll be able to stay in touch, so until the next time..Keep Smiling !

Starting Off…with a Bang !

I’m off again, up to Scotland to see my girls…eventually !

Firstly a trip into Manchester, see the dentist –and the good news that it will only cost £230 !! – I told them I’d see them in a few weeks, and set off with my gums still numb from the anaesthetic that the Hygienist said I’d need, whilst she hoked about in my roots !! I felt like a donkey..hee haw ..

A quick visit to my Dads and then I was off up the road, and onto the motorway.. another fine day in the North, although the forecast was for rain coming down from Scotland, so maybe I’d drive through it ? As it turned out I didn’t se any rain, although it was quite windy and chilly, when I stopped for my smoked salmon and cheese sandwiches (No, I wasn’t splashing out, just emptying the fridge !)..

After a few hours driving, I decided I’d head for Mabie forest http://7stanesmountainbiking.com/Mabie/Phoenix-Trail , just over the border with Scotland, and south of Dumfries – where there was one of the 7 Stanes bike trails/park.. I located it just after 4 p.m., the sun was shining, and it looked to be sett for a nice evening.. there were few people around, so I thought it would be great to stop the night… I saw a forestry worker who agreed that I could…provided I paid the car park charge - £3… even for pensioners !, good value I thought, paid my money, and changed into my biking gear, and hit the trails shortly after 5 p.m….

Even though it’s quite a while since I had ridden any mountain bike trails, I still decided to do the hard ‘Red Phoenix Trail’ and set off upwards, puffing my way past some younger men getting ready for the same I imagined .. I was going great guns, and enjoying the forest which had closed in around me, however as I neared the top of the hill,  the views suddenly opened out in front of me, with views to the distant sea coast of Galloway.. although I couldn’t really figure out where I was !

Then it was time to start swooping downhill, along some narrow twisting rocky tracks down through the forest, and some boardwalk sections raised up above the rocks- balance needed ! I’d just got through the first section (looking good !) and turned along a forest road, to the next section when ‘BANG’ – my back tyre went flat almost immediately… Oh dear, it would have to be a long way from Wally, still no matter I carried enough spares…didn’t I ?

I soon had the bike upside down, and the wheel off, and found a big hole in the tyre – I remembered now, that had happened earlier this year ( Scotland again) and I meant to fix it…what a time to remember, obviously more Rosemary needed ? I had 1 spare inner tube, and was going to patch the tire, unfortunately I didn’t have any patches, 2 tubes of glue though… so I did what I could, pumped up the new tyre, replaced it on the bike, and started gingerly making my way along the trail… I had to go through another section, before I found an ‘escape route’ signed to the car park – still 4kms away though…

I took that and hoping that I didn’t pop the tyre again rode back down to the car park,Wally…and Chilli + Rice.. another ride survived, I probably did about half of it, I’ll have to come back one day, it’s nice here…

So, I’ll see what tomorrow brings, depends on the weather, and my thoughts on the tyre as to whether I can do another trail on my way up North..

So, for today..Good night, from bonnie Scotland !

A Right Royal Weekend

I had a few ‘spare days’, so decided to dash down to Devon for the Dartmouth Royal Regatta…firstly popping in to see Gerard and family near Stonehenge, with Ethan and Elijah ‘jumping for joy’ !! and then continuing down to Brixham, and a pleasant evening walk along the sea front, before being well looked after by Dot, the beloved M-in-L !

Friday we were collected by David and taken over to Kingswear, and soon we were all kitted out for a bit of ‘messing about on the River’…and I was soon installed in the front of David’s boat, watching the rest of them ( Dot,Lesley,Phillippa, Hayley with little Willow and Delilah ) dashing across the River Dart, to do some shopping in Dartmouth , whilst us ‘men’ did some ‘proper sailing’ in and amongst all the Regatta traffic and racing that was also taking place in the river and out to sea… Rupert was soon preparing the 30’ yacht , ready for our sail out to sea..once we’d collected his Dad Bill, who  kindly allowed us all to take his yacht… so soon we were sailing out along the dart, towards the open sea, initially using the motor, but once clear, the sail was unfurled, engine switched off and whoosh… we were sailing under wind power, being tilted by the strength of the wind,I could just about hold my beer !

Not content with giving me a first experience of sailing, Rupert says ‘Do you fancy steering Joe’ ? and with that gave me the tiller…I was sailing the yacht myself, trying to keep it on course, remembering that left meant right, and vice versa !! I was soon into it though, even turning about and heading back towards Dartmouth threading my way through other yachts , and eventually handing over the steering to the experts..my first time in a yacht, and steering as well, Great, Thanks everyone (and the beer was nice !)

Having put the yacht back on it’s mooring, we located all the women and children, and headed back to Lesley's house, ready for the air display, which as it turned out was right above our heads mostly, really good show, firstly the Blades, closely followed by a very noisy Typhoon , even flying upside down – then time for the main event… The Red Arrows, who swept in and over us in a blaze of colour.. doing their acrobatics right over us  , as usual a great display, and then they were off…leaving everyone hooting and cheering with delight…

The following day, a gentle day spent with Dot out on Dartmoor,climbing over Haytor, and looking down at he surrounding moor, ready for the trip home, early the following morning…

A great, but brief, weekend, Thanks everyone for looking after me, and showing me the sights…and sites !

Thanks for The Memories !

I awoke in my own bed..to consider these last few months..

I’ve been away for 3 months and 10 days…

I’ve driven 4,670 miles

I’ve been in England,France,Corsica,France,Italy,France,Eire, Northern Ireland,Southern Ireland,England…

I’ve been on 5 car ferries,lots of other ‘little boats’

I’ve walked and ridden …miles and miles..

and I’ve had a great time.. I hope you’ve enjoyed accompanying me ?

and now…my house is in good form, thanks to my great neighbours Bill and Anne, who are the best ‘watch dogs’ ever- Thank You both

but there’s a bit of gardening to do…opening letters and dealing with the 200+ letters, 470 emails….and planning my next escapade…  which will be….soon !

Thanks for Joining me

Jotown

Leaving the Island of Ireland…

After my ‘sunrise viewing’ …I continued noding until almost 9 a.m., ready for the long day ahead, packing everything, finding my passport (which no one asked for !) and general hanging around on the campsite, on a sunny but windy morning.

I then set out late morning for Dublin Port, filling up with fuel and butties on the way.. I found my way (thanks to Satnav Sally) relatively easily, and as I approached the port saw a massive ‘Gathering’ sign  on the port buildings, reminding me of my original intentions for coming to Ireland…and well worth it, it’s been !

I checked in, to be told that as it was a freight boat, then lunch and dinner were provided (free !) great…although it would be along journey..I was in the queue, first of the ‘tourists’, as I was led onto the ‘European Endeavour’ by a pilot , but you know the saying…I had to reverse into place, and consequently I would be one of the last off !

I made my way to the seating area, to be told lunch was being served, so helped myself to a 3 course lunch, lovely

Then I went to the seating areas, basic but comfortable and clean, and looking out into the port saw the cruise ship ‘The Oriana’ docked next to another cruiser – bet their food was better than mine , maybe they even had some wine…!

We set off bang on time, with relatively few passengers, not like the other passenger ferries I’ve been on..and as I left the borders of the Island of Ireland…looked back fondly on my time there, along with my other travels of the summer.. I sat in a comfy couch watching the sea being eaten up by the ship, with lots of ships going to and fro in front of us – I settled down for the long journey – 8 1/2 hours ! – to Liverpool

As it got dark, I continued cat napping, and watching the sea go by, a gentle swell, no more on a really nice cruise.. as we passed by the Isle of Man, and I think into Morecombe Bay, passing many oil/gas rigs, anchored out in the sea, lit up like giant cities ..I was ready for home…but not before another meal served at 10 p.m. – presumably so the truckers could keep driving into the night, when they disembark..so that’s what I decided to do, I had been wondering whether I should stop somewhere in Liverpool, but as I got off the ship at 11-45p.m. decided I may as well drive home…which I did arriving at just after 1 a.m….to a great pile of letters etc

Safely home…and ready for a final sleep in my sleeping bag ( didn’t feel like making the bed !) which I placed on my bed, so home…but not quite …Goodnight !

Back to the Cold Sea !

I’d had a good ,peaceful nights sleep, up in the middle of somewhere ?, and after a leisurely breakfast, set off, again towards my destination of Dublin,as I turned off the motorway, saw signs for Monasterboice, interesting I thought ,so went there.. turned out to be the site of an ancient Monastery settlement, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monasterboice with a tower (treasury,safety spot) small church, now in ruins,  and great large Celtic crosses – when I say large, they really were, how they must have been made and erected.. then I continued  via the coast, firstly through a busy seaside resort of Bettystown, and then to a small town called Rush, where I located a nice campsite,http://www.northbeach.ie/ right on the top of the beach, at the back of the sand dunes..and paid the princely sum of $10 for the night !

The sea below looked inviting…and cold, so I decided I couldn’t resist one final sea swim..so I changed and went in…freeeezing ! and quickly got out after I had swam a little…After a nice shower (another $2 !) I wandered in to the small town,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush,_Dublin passing the harbour area and made my way to the library to get on t’internet.. then back to the campsite watching the world go by on the beach below …

I then went back into town for a final Guinness and then my final Irish evening meal…which was ? – Indian Curry ! – although using Irish potatoes ! and there was a special deal, which was still double what I would pay at home ! Then I wandered back along the beach and rocks, collecting some nice rocks and shells for home, looking at the kite surfers who were being blown along by the strong winds.. I rounded the point and arrived back at the campsite, for a read, watching a  tame sunset behind me , but leaving the front screen off, so I could capture the morning sunrise…which I did, just after 6 a.m. I started to see the sun coming up over the sea in front of me, and for the next hour I intermittently watched it rising in front…then went back to sleep, ready for my final Irish journey…to the Port and home !

The Last Leg Downwards

I’ve been trying to pack everything in, these last few days that I’ve got, but it’s starting to get harder to get going in the morning…and keep going all day/evening !

I was still up early today though, packed and on my way before 9 a.m. and down into Ballycastle. The radio ( BBC radio 2 at last !) was talking about great weather, lots of sunshine etc in England…guess what here ? -still overcast with better prospects for later and as I wandered around Ballycastle, the rain arrived, so I scarpered, taking the winding twisty road, up and around the coastline, so that I could pass Fair Head the North Easterly point of Ireland – which I did in a sweep of the road, and was travelling along the steep Antrim coastline, with the sea below me – now the ‘North Channel’ between Ireland and Scotland, clearly seen not many miles away .Now I was on my last ‘leg’ of the Irish coast, down along the West… I stopped at Coolranny village wandering around the graveyard, and a plaque giving the now normal history of poverty,emigration and decimation, although now it’s a very quiet coastal hamlet with an immaculately kept graveyard

I continued down into Cushenden (in the rain) and then Cushendall, a very picturesque village , by now I’d decided to splash out and have lunch somewhere – couldn’t find anywhere yet open, it was 11-30 a.m. and so had to carry on, and do myself a butty, whilst looking out over the coastline, and remains of coal/quarry  workings along Red Bay ,continuing down the West Coast, where great rocks of white limestone were being cut from the cliffs and used to line the road. Everything started getting busier as I approached Larne, where I could see big ships going across the channel towards mainland Britain

Not stopping I continued down towards Belfast, and the end of the Causeway coastal route… as I looked across Belfast Bay, and could see in the distance the big cranes of the Harland and Woolf shipyard. I wasn’t going to venture in to the City, having seen it last year…

So now, where to go next ? I decided the luxury of a campsite for a couple of days, and no more driving until Wednesday – good plan ? yes, but not that good… I had selected a campsite on the coast at a place called Kilkeel with the sea and Carlingford Loch for company and the Mourne mountains behind… when I got there after an hours drive I found a really busy seaside area, with hundreds of caravans packed in… not for me, so I turned back inland and to another campsite in a forest at Rostrevor, far nicer I thought when I got there… full ! So I headed off with some suggestions from the people at that campsite, stopped for fish and chips on the banks of Carlingford Loch, by now having driven through Newry and returned to Eire .

I eventually found a spot up in the Dooley hills, where reputedly is buried the ‘Long Woman’(back in the land of Myths and Legends!) …I’ll keep her company for the night… as I’m not going further   ..Goodnight !